Disclaimer: Naruto isn't mine!
Answer to an anonymous review: I'm sorry you feel that way, but it is what it is. I was planning this all along.
On with the story! I hope you all like it!
Six months passed, and the death of Itachi was confirmed by the combined teams who had gone to search for Sasuke. But Sasuke himself had vanished without a trace, although Hinata had seen him severely injured with her Byakugan.
Meanwhile, Ryo had kept his Eternal Mangekyo hidden while taking care of Ino and dating Sakura. He'd fallen for both the girls, and knew it was his right as one of the last Uchiha to restore his clan by having more than one wife, even though Sakura didn't, couldn't, know about Ino being pregnant with his child unless she were to marry him. He'd already married Ino when she was four months along, so Ino had been sharing his apartment for two months. He didn't wear his wedding band on his finger, but on a long chain hidden beneath his shirt. His wife knew why he was doing so, but didn't say anything. She was happy that she'd gotten to marry him even though it wasn't through complete love yet.
But this day, Ryo had it for himself. He knelt at a shrine he'd constructed, incense burning and flowers lay in front of it. He bowed his head and pressed his hands together in a steeple. He thought of many things to say, but none stayed very long. The last time he'd seen his brother had been when he'd become an ANBU.
Ryo blinked as he was presented with the necklace he'd always admired on Itachi. "Nii-san, I don't understand."
"I got this necklace when I became an ANBU, now I want to pass it on to you," the elder Uchiha stated, smiling.
"But…why?"
"You still don't understand? Fine then, I'll explain further. You've followed in my footsteps this far, but now I want you to make your own choices. Don't become Madara's pawn as I have. Don't let him get to you as he might to Sasuke. This necklace will be a reminder of your dear Nii-san's stupid decisions and an example of what path you should never take."
"I promise to never do so, cross my heart and hope to die."
"I'd call for a pinky swear, but I don't think guys do that between themselves."
Ryo snorted and nodded. "That's true. I'll really swallow a thousand needles if I break this very important oath to you."
"That would kill you."
"I'll do it if it would pay for lying to you."
Itachi rumpled his little brother's bangs. "I wish that was the worst thing Sasuke wanted to do, lie to me, but I'm afraid it won't happen. The end for me draws closer all the time, whether or not Sasuke is the one who causes it."
The younger Uchiha frowned playfully at his brother's affectionate gesture combined with such grave words. "I don't think I could ever kill you, even if you hadn't told me the truth."
"You might not think so, but had I not, you'd be a mirror of Sasuke or worse because of the Eternal Mangekyo you were forced into having."
"I wish I could tell him right now, but this is all for him. I'll plant the seed of light into his heart and it'll be all up to him whether or not he decides to nourish it or not. So many choices for poor Sasuke to make, but no help will come from me other than that. I can't meddle in the final fight between you two, even if I want to save you both."
"For you to be man enough to say that, it took a lot of courage, Ryo. I'm very proud of you, more than Otou-san ever was of me."
Ryo beamed at his beloved sibling, showing his child self in a rare moment of complete happiness. "Thanks, Nii-san."
He would mourn for Itachi, but he was even more saddened by the news that Sasuke hadn't returned to Konohagakure no Sato as of yet, even if it was to have a trial ending in his execution. Perhaps Sasuke was too far gone to the darkness to return to the light, even if the truth had been revealed to him by the right source, instead of being twisted by Madara, their true enemy. And Ryo knew that if Madara couldn't get his grubby hands on himself, he would do anything he could to get Sasuke on his side. Then again, he probably knew right away that Sasuke wasn't the one he'd tortured into possessing Eternal Mangekyo once he'd found out he'd betrayed Konohagakure no Sato to go to Orochimaru.
Poor Sasuke, such things he had to go through, just because he was of Uchiha blood. They seemed to invite misfortune, not that he'd done anything to stop things like that from happening. The probable situation he was in was mostly his fault for seeking power at the wrong source. But if the report of him becoming an Akatsuki came in, Ryo would go after him to kill him, to end his misery so he wouldn't suffer any longer. It wouldn't be an easy fight, but a necessary one.
"Ryo, you're so tense," Ino murmured, rubbing his stiff shoulders. "I know you're mourning for your eldest brother, but please, don't get too into it. I won't let you give up on life and leave me alone to deal with what you left behind."
He opened his eyes and relaxed. "Ino, I wasn't going to sink into despair. Don't worry, I promised to take care of you, and I don't break my promises." In a smooth motion, he turned around so he was kneeling in front of his wife and placed a hand on her rounded stomach. Chakra glowed around his spread fingers as he probed the fetus' condition, closing his eyes in concentration. He smiled a little and announced, "The baby's doing well, getting bigger by the day."
She smiled in relief, hooking her fingers around the edges of the glasses he wore (only around her) and flipping them up so they rested on the top of his head. "I can't decide which look makes you sexier: with the glasses or without the glasses."
"You so round with child makes you all the more irresistible, Uchiha-san," he whispered back, smirking. "I know you like my nickname: 'Megane-kun'."
He placed his arms around her, his smirk widening to a grin as she blushed. He was about to kiss her when a set of knocks sounded through his door. He sighed and nodded to her. She retreated to the closet as he went to the door, forgetting his glasses that still sat on the top of his head. He opened the entrance to his flat and smiled.
"Sakura, how are you this lovely day?"
She placed her hands on her hips. "I know you're troubled over the fact that Sasuke-kun hasn't returned after killing Itachi-san, Ryo. We don't know if he's alive or dead."
"So you want to see if I'm mourning over my brother's supposed death?"
"No, I know you are. It's written all over your face."
"Sasuke's mental condition is still up in the air, considering he's completed his revenge, but in this aftermath, does he feel empty inside? Is there an overwhelming sorrow? Or has he decided to put it behind him? His physical condition on the other hand, he's too tough to die that easily. I know he's alive and kicking."
"How are you so sure?"
"I know Sasuke like I know myself. He's probably stronger than I am at this point, even if he was beaten to a pulp by Nii-san."
"You still call him that, even if he was a traitor?"
"Now that Nii-san is deceased, I must protest that deduction of him. Uchiha Itachi was no traitor. He was a hero of our village."
Her eyes widened at the surety in her boyfriend's voice. "How do you know? Who told you?"
"Nii-san told me, and I know him better than almost anyone else in the village, even Sasuke. Unfortunately, unless certain people are rid of, I cannot reveal the truth to you, save you were of Uchiha name."
"You mean that I'd have to marry you? Now?"
"Yes, now. Now is probably all I have, since this is more than likely the calm before the storm."
"You expect Sasuke not to return to Konohagakure no Sato?"
"No."
"Don't you believe in him?"
"Even though I'm optimistic, that doesn't mean I haven't given him enough chances. If he's gone for another week, he won't be coming back unless it's to destroy Konohagakure no Sato and everyone in it."
"I'll ask again, how do you know this?"
"And I'll repeat: I know Sasuke like I know myself. If I were in his place, only the slightest push in the wrong direction would cause me to fall into darkness. If I know the cause of his disappearance, then it's already happened, no matter about my meddling in his decision. We're complete opposites, only because of when we were given certain information about Nii-san which cannot be revealed unless we're to marry."
"Why don't you tell Shishou about this?"
"If I do, and it's only speculation, it could cause civil war in Konohagakure no Sato, and that is something that isn't needed at this time. If I know the Akatsuki, they'll be coming after Naruto next and that won't be a fun thing. So, are we going to marry or not?"
Sakura placed her hands behind her back and smiled. "I didn't think it would be this soon, but okay!"
"Do you want the ceremony to be formal, or do you want to elope?"
"I'm ready for some recklessness, let's elope!"
"Pack a weekend bag and meet me at the nearest gate, we're getting married in two hours."
Sakura ran off, grinning for all she was worth, and Ryo closed the door, blinking as he noticed the glasses fall from his head and landing on the tip of his nose.
"Did she notice me wearing these?"
Ino came out of her hiding place. "She probably thought they were reading glasses or some fetish you have."
He pushed the spectacles up to their proper place and grinned. "I need to pack for my second wedding, do you approve of my choice, Uchiha Ino?"
"Of course! Sakura's my best friend! I would gladly share you with her!"
"Thank you, Ino. You're a saint."
"Not a saint, just a girl in love. I love you and I know you love Sakura, also I know that because you love her, you chose her as your second wife by choice. You had to marry me because I was already pregnant with your kid, but not so with Sakura. Although I do wonder what she's gonna do once she finds out you're a bigamist and perhaps even a polygamist."
"It's part of the clan restoration duties. If Sasuke was here, he'd have to take two, three, maybe even four wives, if he was willing. I'm willing to suffer through your arguments if you promise that you'll still be best friends after I marry her."
"Do you think you'll marry a third girl?"
"If I do, then I'm going to consult you both on who I should choose that would be harmonious with you two."
"Let's just hope Sakura doesn't want to fight me over the right of who gets to be the main wife, because I'm not willing to fight her right now, or ever. I want to put our rivalry behind me, because being married to you has mellowed my personality drastically. You've noticed how much calmer I am, haven't you?"
"Yes, I have. I don't want any fights, especially with you so heavily pregnant."
"Okay, go on. I want you back in a month, the longest. If you get back any later, I'm coming after you."
He waved to her as he left, using Body Flicker to get to Sakura quickly. She looked up to see her boyfriend as he appeared and smiled. "That was fast. Now, shall we go?"
He snickered as he put his arm around her. "That's supposed to be my line. Come on, this isn't a mission, so Hokage-sama isn't going to be happy when she finds out we left the village without permission."
He took her hand and used Body Flicker to get out of the village quickly. When that was done, they traveled to the nearest town to have their quick wedding. Sakura gasped when she was presented with a beautiful ring.
"You planned on me saying yes?" she asked as he slipped it on her finger.
"I knew that with how we've been waiting and how unstable things are, there was a large chance. Besides, if you'd said no now, I would've waited for you."
Tears went down her cheeks as she kissed him, overjoyed with how much he loved her. "Thank you, Ryo. Let's make this honeymoon the best one ever."
A month later they returned, sneaking back to his apartment with her draped over his shoulders and staring at him with complete love. He knew the expression on her face wouldn't last once the complete truth came out, but he would never abandon Ino. He'd also deduced that during their honeymoon Sakura had conceived, but he hadn't told her yet. If she'd checked on her own, as a top medical ninja should when she's still on active duty, then she would've found out, too. She hadn't said anything against having children right away, but with how things might turn out in the near future, she would have to quit being a ninja, just like Ino, to keep her baby safe.
He closed the door behind them and flipped on the light, dropping his bag at the foot of his bed, Sakura stretching as he walked to the right side of the bed. He smiled and placed a hand on Ino's shoulder, shaking her awake. She opened her eyes and smiled at him.
"You're finally back."
"You did say a month the longest."
Sakura froze at the voice and turned to see Ino getting out of Ryo's bed. She then shrieked, "INO-PIG?! WHAT'RE YOU DOING HERE?! THIS IS RYO'S APARTMENT!"
Ino rubbed her head. "I think that was apparent the moment Ryo opened it with his key. Would you stop screaming already? It's giving me a headache."
Ryo placed a hand on her rounded stomach, chakra glowing as he checked the condition of the baby. His concerned expression softened to happiness as he found it was all right. "Everything seems to be fine, Ino. Did Hokage-sama come to check on you?"
"Yeah, she came around a couple times."
The pink-haired young woman started popping veins before she demanded, "What the heck is going on here, Ryo?! Are you cheating on me already?!"
Ryo held up a hand. "No, that isn't it at all. If you must know the truth, then you have to know everything."
Sakura put her hands on her hips and began tapping her foot. "All right, I'm waiting."
The Uchiha teen sat down and began his tale.
After a couple of hours, Sakura stared at her new husband in shock. "Y-you expect me to believe this? When you've hidden your relationship with Ino from me for seven months?"
"I do, because now that you know this, we can't get divorced. The conditions of me taking on any wife is that I am completely honest with her and have her in the know. You are now an Uchiha and my second wife. You carry my baby."
Both Ino and Sakura gasped, before Sakura placed a glowing hand on her stomach. Her eyes widened as she confirmed Ryo's claim. Ino got up and whispered, "Excuse me," before running into the bathroom.
"What's wrong with her?"
"She's been horribly sick during this whole pregnancy. Not just morning nausea like you. Either she doesn't take to being pregnant well, or her body has to get used to being pregnant after this first time. We've tried everything to get her to stop throwing up, but nothing really works. By how you've been these past two weeks, I can tell your pregnancy is going to be easier."
"Ryo, I have to know, do you love me?"
"What kind of question is that? Haven't I shown you? I wasn't forced to marry you, I married you because I wanted to. I felt no sense of obligation or guilt with you. Ino, on the other hand, I'm learning to love her, and she knows it. In truth, she knows I'll always love you more."
He got up from his seat on the bed and went to his drawers, picking up his glasses, twirling them around once before unfolding them and slipping them on. Sakura stared at the glasses and frowned a little as she gave them a thorough speculation.
"You don't wear glasses, Ryo."
"It's more out of habit and for Ino than anything. She does say she likes me better with them on."
"Is the Taka incident still haunting your relationship?"
"Of course, that's what caused this arrangement. I was planning on just marrying you in a few years and having several children with you, but it seems that luck is against me. Now I have two wives that are both going to have a baby. Ino's already retired as a ninja so she can rest and raise our child once it's born, but what will you do?"
"Until I'm showing, I plan to do as I've always done."
"Remember, overusing your chakra isn't good for the baby."
"I know that! I've tended to many ninja mothers these past couple years!"
"Just because you have doesn't mean you'll remember in the heat of battle or in the middle of a hospital full of injured people."
"Are you going to help if there's an emergency as well?"
"That's something that will be decided on where I am at the time. If I get caught in battle, I'm fighting, but if not, I'll race to the hospital. I am an expert medical ninja, after all, being taught by the best."
"I'm so glad you're on our side, you're like Itachi and Kabuto mixed together."
"True, but that doesn't mean I'm infallible. I just hope that what I fear doesn't come to pass sooner than I thought."
"What's that?"
"I've heard of this Pain that killed Jiraiya-sama. If he comes after Naruto, things won't end well."
"You really think he's that powerful?"
"Yes."
"Considering that Sasuke hasn't returned, by your deduction, he's turned against us."
"Yes."
Sakura then smirked. "Well, there's one thing that's going to freak you out more than any of that."
"What?"
"You have to tell Naruto about this whole thing."
"He's my best friend, but if I was to tell him, he would pound me, first of all, then he'd go after Sasuke straight away. I can't have him getting himself killed just to bring back my wayward brother. If someone has to deal with him, I will."
"But Ryo, Naruto doesn't have as much to lose as you do! You have me, Ino, and two children that we're going have, me just starting, but Ino is well on the way to having hers!"
"It's true, but I'm the only one strong enough to deal with him and the true enemy that Nii-san told me of."
"Who?"
"Uchiha Madara."
When I was writing this, I still believed Obito was Madara, so this will be rather out of date. Also, some of the powers of the Eternal Magekyo Sharingan will be weird. I hope you all can bear with me on this!
Please review!
